Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwidediscussing legal aspects related to Leisure.

Since the rise of the Internet, the illegal sharing of music, movies, and software have been an ongoing concern. Still, not every peer-to-peer network for sharing various forms of media is illegal, and some companies have even found it desirable to begin distributing materials in this fashion. So, when is it legal to download music, movies, or software via torrents on the Internet?

The California Homemade Food Act which went into effect January 1, 2013 has created a new category of food production called a cottage food operation. To qualify for a permit, aspiring food manufacturers need to attend a food safety class, pass an exam, learn how to label foods, pay a fee and submit to inspections. They can’t smoke or keep pets in their kitchens, certain hazardous foods are prohibited, and there is also a revenue limit.

Agreeing with your spouse to reimburse him or after a shopping trip? A contract. Buying a plane ticket? A contract. Signing an offer letter from an employer who has offered you a job? A contract. A multi-page complex document laying out terms and conditions of a high value corporate deal? A contract.

California legislators plan to introduce a bill to eliminate the personal belief exemption which allows California parents to refuse to vaccinate their children. Two U.S. senators also want to eliminate the religious exemption. Whether either change is enacted, daycare facilities who fail to protect others from unvaccinated children and parents who fail to vaccinate their children risk liability for any injuries or deaths caused by their child’s spread of the highly contagious measles virus.

In the past lawyers for the hospitality and entertainment industry, for restaurants, hotels, festivals, events, and attractions in California handled matters such as food safety, contracts with entertainers, alcohol regulations, or injuries on hotel properties. Hospitality and entertainment lawyers in places like Palm Springs today must also seek to protect guest confidentiality and safety at live music pool parties, film and music festivals, major sporting events and more.

In the aftermath of the horrific and deadly attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris on January 7, 2015, we examine why parody and satire are cherished forms of free speech and how they are protected by U.S. and U.K. law. When an aggrieved target of satire or parody sues for defamation, or a copyright holder sues when their work is contained in a mashup, can parody, satire, or fair use be utilized as a defense by an attorney? In the U.K., it will help if the parody is funny.

The right of publicity is the right of every human being to control the commercial use of his or her identity. When that right is infringed, the individual’s publicity rights have been violated. The right of privacy is the right not have your name or likeness appropriated by another without your permission, your privacy intruded, your private information to be made public, and to not be placed in a false light. In California, damages can be pursued by an attorney for these infringements.

The client who creates a comic book character and goes on to develop a character that can be licensed to third-party publishers, to the film and television industry and to the interactive game industry, isn’t simply creating content. They’re creating intellectual property the ownership of which needs to be carefully protected so all the revenue streams from that content can be potentially licensed and controlled by the comic book creator and his or her company.

On September 16, 2014, California’s new bike law went into effect requiring motorists to give bicyclists three feet of distance when passing a bike rider. Since the law passed, bicycle collisions continue to occur. Motorists are likely to be cited for breaking the three feet law only if a deputy witnesses the accident. With the initial publicity of the law fading, many drivers remain unaware of the law. And bicyclists will need to continue to look out for drivers coming too close.

It’s time to give personal injury lawyers a tort that can improve the lives of people at Christmas. How long are family members going to suffer at Christmas after being served dishes that should have stayed in the 50's, for lies told to them by their parents, and for Christmas traditions they never agreed to take part in, without being able to obtain some type of relief for the distress, the stomach pain and heartburn they’ve endured? Well no more. It’s time for the Christmas Tort.

In January 2015 the Treasury Department issued regulations to establish banking relations and allow U.S. companies to export items for sale in Cuba without the trade barriers that have existed for decades. While some Republican leaders have criticized Obama’s actions, normal relations with Cuba are only a matter of time and the opportunities for attorneys representing American and European companies wishing to pursue commercial opportunities in Cuba have never been greater.

Starting in 2015, the pharmaceutical companies - EFPIA members shall comply with the requirements regarding the disclosure of information on the transfer of value to Healthcare Professionals and Healthcare Organizations.

One of the issues in negotiating director agreements in television is whether contingent compensation provision applies in situations where a director is pay or played off a film. The question becomes will the director be entitled to any portion of the negotiated contingent compensation since she has been terminated and is no longer with the project.

Following the announcement of the signature of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between Malta and Alderney between the Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) on the 9th October 2013, several operators await further details about the MoU with some anticipation.

Contracting in sensitive Muslim countries where western culture may not be well perceived may create legal obligations and precedents which must be strictly adhered to to prevent contractual breaches. A Malaysian perspective.

Although the doctrine of precedent does not underpin the Portuguese legal system, there are some (extraordinary) cases where the Portuguese Supreme Court of Justice rules upon a certain subject matter and makes a decision that may be seen as having a “stare decisis” nature.

After reports of domestic spying surfaced, and the possibility that drone aircraft might be used to carry out surveillance of Americans, many reacted violently. This led to what was initially considered an absurd suggestion that “drone hunting” should be legalized. However, several jurisdictions have actually made movement in the direction of issuing permits to shoot surveillance aircraft out of the sky.

Prom, homecoming, and other formal dances are rites of passage for millions of American youth. So, it is perhaps surprising to many that such an activity may be regulated by the law, but in many jurisdictions it is. And, we are not talking about exotic or belly or other suggestive types of dancing. These laws apply to any kind of dancing, including the stuff your grandparents were doing. So, what are some of the more unusual laws against dancing?

Following the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the U.S. federal government enacted a number of measures meant to combat the threat of terrorism on American soil. Among these measures was the implementation of the No Fly List, created and maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). Often the subject of jokes in TV shows and movies, many wonder what it really is and how it works. So, how does the U.S. No Fly List actually work?

It is not uncommon, particularly around the holidays, for children to visit family members in other states. Sometimes this means taking a flight. But, for many families, it is just not financially feasible for a parent to accompany the child on the flight. So, what are the laws and rules regarding when children can fly alone?

A liquor license is, as the name implies, a license for the service of alcohol. But, many have referred to the procurement of a liquor license in almost reverent terms, as though it is a rare prize. So what is a liquor license and why is it such a big deal to have one?

Many have wondered whether body paint is sufficient covering to be considered clothing such that a person could not be arrested for public nudity. This question becomes popular particularly around holidays like Halloween, but has often come up with relation to art projects, political protests, and even sporting events. As with so many things in the law, the answer is unsatisfactorily vague.

Whenever one engages in sports, there is always an inherent risk of injury. Most athletes accept this risk as part of the game. Most injuries are accidental and relatively minor, like sprains, twists, and the occasional bone break. But what happens if an injury occurs as a result of a deliberate hit or someone acts so recklessly that injury is almost certain to occur?

The issue of diversity of citizenship is of particular interest to equine ownership and contract disputes, because many equine-related entities are organized as limited liability companies (LLCs). The citizenship of LLCs is subject to a different rule than the citizenship of corporations, a distinction that may escape the attention of attorneys.

Many professional athletes over the last two decades have been subjected to humiliation and ridicule after it was revealed that they used steroids to gain a competitive edge. From the Olympics to cycling to professional baseball, it seems no high level sport is safe from the use of such banned substances, a practice often called “doping.” But why are steroids illegal?

Graffiti is an unusual topic in the art world. Several artists have become iconic for their graffiti art works, like Keith Haring and Banksy. But how does the law deal with the debate between free expression, art, and the crime of defacing others' properties?

Many states have small casinos associated with a Native American tribe. This often leads one to wonder why casinos are legal when associated with an Indian Tribe, but not under other circumstances. Which laws apply to these Indian casinos, as they are often called, and how are they regulated?

Like virtually every other activity Americans engage in on a daily basis, even video games are subject to the restrictions and protections of the law. This is also an area of increasing interest as hundreds of new companies come into the video game market every year by developing the wildly popular game apps played on mobile phones and tablet devices.

While it may seem exaggerated, experts and studies say divorce can spread just like a disease through social groups. But are there social and seasonal patterns that could affect the future of your marriage?

What happens when famous pieces of art are stolen and law enforcement leads run dry? Private recovery agencies are called upon to bring back these multimillion dollar masterpieces, often taking years to track the work, earning staggering fees, and blurring the line between legal and illegal activities.

Gambling is restricted in America, though its popularity is increasing. Laws regarding gambling are important not only for those involved with gaming operations, like casinos, bingo, or poker tournaments, but also for the average person who wants to know whether he can legally start a betting pool among his friends or at his office, has an idea for a new business model involving some form of chance, or if he can legally participate in an online poker tournament.

Millions of Americans engage in creating fantasy football teams. It can be a fun way to add an extra layer of enjoyment to the season and, for some, to add an extra investment in the fan's favorite players and teams. While most fans only worry about who they will start on their fantasy team on Sunday, if their league has an entry fee or awards prizes, they may be engaging in illegal activity.

Americans have a non-explicit right (often called a “penumbra right”) to privacy. We find its origins in things like the right against self-incrimination, the right against illegal search and seizure, etc. In the modern era, the general nature of a right of privacy is the right of a person to be free from unwarranted publicity or the unwarranted appropriation or exploitation of that person's image, voice, or likeness.

The world is shrinking, businesses have gone global, and changes at all corners of the world equally affect each other contributing to dynamic and at times volatile global economy. In such a scenario it is not surprising that there will be legal needs across companies which has branches in multiple locations and needs a uniform service and representation everywhere.

Almost twenty years have passed since the enactment of Law 8 of 1994, which until the end of the year 2012 regulated tourism investments and incentives in the Republic of Panama. This body of law responded to a national strategy and a master plan oriented towards promoting tourism related investments in Panama.

Malta’s position within the financial services, gaming and aviation sectors, is further bolstered by the newly introduced 15% flat tax rate on; income derived from employment in Malta, by persons not domiciled in Malta and working in either of the ‘eligible offices’ as defined by the HQP Rules. With a minimum annual tax payable of € 11,250, equating to a 15% tax rate being applied to an income of € 75,000, tax planning has become a lot simpler.

Advice for parents on keeping your son safe during football season. When your kid heads out on the football field, you want to know that you have done everything in your power to keep him safe. One of the areas that parents have a lot of control is in the gear their boys wear on the field. Make sure that your son has everything necessary to protect him from injury.

The Higher Regional Court of Cologne recently ruled that if an artist transfers a publishing company the
right to publish his/her work in a certain book project (in this case a coffee-table book by photographer Helmut Newton), where there is no express agreement to the contrary, the publishing company cannot prohibit the use of the same images by the artist or by another publishing company (e.g., on the Internet).

Two men who who jetted from New York to Fort Lauderdale to board Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship to Jamaica last week, but their vacation took a twisted turn when they found themselves locked away in the cruise ship's brig, accused of raping a young woman.

A French court recently fined an individual €150 for pirating two music tracks. A French court recently fined Alain Prevost €150 for pirating two tracks by the artist Rihanna. The irony is that it was actually his wife who had downloaded the tracks without his knowledge. Unfortunately, Prevost found himself targeted by this action because he was the bill payer for the internet connection through which the songs were downloaded.

“Electronic Arts” (EA), best known for the FIFA series and the recent smash hit series Mass Effect has recently chosen to sue the Facebook media giant “Zynga” for copyright infringement. In the digital gaming industry, also called the video game industry in most parts of the world, the most important asset at one’s disposal is intellectual property. This stands as the basis for a series of successful products whenever a particular franchise takes off – as well as a lot of profit.

On the 11th July 2012, the European Commission presented a draft bill aimed at the elimination of music piracy as well as strengthening copyright protection for music. The main target of this bill is to ensure that companies managing music rights would pay royalties to the artists they represent in a shorter timeframe.

The warmer weather and sunny skies of spring have arrived in the U.S., opening the gates to tourists from around the globe, but one group of tourists should be especially mindful of the legal hazards of visiting the U.S. If you are a foreigner engaged to a U.S. citizen and living abroad, then your petition for a K-1 visa will establish your intent to marry an American citizen and stay here permanently.

The summer travel season is fast approaching, and many foreign citizens are making plans now to visit the U.S., but they won’t be going anywhere without the necessary immigration compliance preparations. Generally, the “necessary preparations” would include obtaining a tourist visa, but it is possible to avoid the paperwork, fees and waiting associated with this step if you are an eligible citizen of a country that is enrolled in the U.S. visa waiver program.

A proper understanding of the various federal, state and local government licensing and regulatory regimes in the Hotels, Hospitality and Tourism markets in Nigeria is critical to the execution and substance of a viable business plan in any of these sectors. This Legal Alert is our contribution to your achieving this objective. - Legal Alert – April 2012 – Hotels & Tourism Licensing and Regulatory Regimes

The overwhelmingly common theme to the reports of Lord Hodge’s ruling in the ongoing Rangers administration case was that he refused to give any directions: the BBC’s “'No ruling' on Rangers administrators' Ticketus challenge” was pretty typical. In fact, the court provided a careful and useful analysis of the law and, in particular, highlighted once more the dangers of failing to appreciate that the Scottish and English jurisdictions, laws and legal traditions are quite separate and distinct.

It is the job of the entertainment industry to provide the general public with a source of entertainment. Unfortunately, the methods employed to do so are not always received well, and sometimes entertainers and media moguls can be sued for the risks they take when providing entertainment to viewers and listeners throughout the U.S.

Title IX was enacted to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender in educational institutions. The law requires that a school, once it learns of a sexual assault, should effectively investigate the incident, eliminate the risk, and remedy the harm to the student whenever possible.

The reason that SOPA garnered so much attention was largely due to vague language that seemed to provide the government with a very wide scope of power to shut down websites and block access. While the possibility of restrictions may have looked like censorship to a public used to a laissez-faire approach to internet access, the main targets of SOPA were primarily foreign websites that hosted libraries of pirated content.

Corporate law attorneys are required in a number of aspects of a business and business affairs. Legal orders may sometimes require you to necessarily incorporate a new company to make sure that the correct paperwork is filed with adequate governmental requirements.

Canada is the foremost foreign destination for expanding franchises and a preferred entry point for cross border franchisers, especially for those seeking to enter the North American market. With high per capita personal incomes, a stable and reliable economy, and a sophisticated consumer culture, many franchisers find Canada to be an opportunistic and rewarding market. However the Business Franchise Law in Canada is too stringent and hence seeks attention.

The Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 provides for comprehensive provisions to prohibit the financing of terrorism, the laundering of the proceeds of a crime or of any illegal activity. This Law further provides for a wide range of penalties and expands the scope of the supervisory and regulatory authorities in Nigeria to combat money laundering offenses. The fact that a money laundering offense was committed in different jurisdictions or different parts of the world is no longer relevant.

After several brawls and other instances of violence resulting in personal injury at sporting events in California, new rules for attendants have been issued at stadiums throughout the state, and officials are discussing creating harsher penalties for offenders, explains a local attorney.

On July 5, 2011, a decision was reached in People v. Terry Vangelder (2011 DJDAR 9949). The ruling seems to afford a defendant with large lung capacity and a low hematocrit the right to introduce evidence of these characteristics to show his blood alcohol content may be significantly different (lower) than what a breath machine calculates in a roadside DUI test.

Under U.S. Patent law, inventors and other individuals substantively involved with the preparation and/or prosecution of the application, such as assignees and patent attorneys, have a duty to disclose to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), information which is material to patentability of the claimed invention.

Each year, millions of people visit Yosemite National Park in California. While some come to see the cascading waters of Bridalveil Fall or Vernal Fall, many come to make the nearly 9 mile trek to Half Dome. Making the final 400-foot ascent requires that hikers use cables to climb the rock, a dangerous feat that has resulted in numerous fatalities and even more cases of personal injury over the years.

Traumatic brain injuries (“TBIs”) among young athletes have garnered increased attention recently, due in large part to a growing awareness in the medical and athletic communities regarding the prevalence and potentially devastating effects of head injuries in youth sports.

It is well accepted in most jurisdictions that participation in sports activities involves a certain assumption of risk. That assumption of risk however, may not bar an injury claim where there is some reckless disregard by the person that causes the injury.

Until a few years ago, a mobile phone consisted of a handheld device which enabled a subscriber to make and receive voice calls whilst mobile, as opposed to accessing the public telephony network from a fixed location. As technology progressed, however, both in terms of the handheld device, and in terms of the transmission capabilities on mobile networks, the mobile phone became a ‘smarter’ device, combining voice services with e-mail, fax and/or Internet access.

Whilst much has been said and written both for and against the removal of barriers to the free movement of gaming services within the European Union, anyone trying to get to grips with understanding how remote gaming is regulated within the EU is bound to have a tough time in digesting the variables involved - not to mention the legal “black-holes” created by the inter-jurisdictional structuring of operators’ affairs, with different laws applying in each of these jurisdictions.

Independent film financing and tax credits are linked and play a huge role in making a successful film. Understanding where these credits are and how to obtain them is vital. Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, experienced entertainment lawyers can help with this. This article lists the credits available in the United States by jurisdiction.

With the promulgation of the Regulation on Travel Agencies as of February 20, 2009 (“Regulation”), China has opened its doors to the foreign investors in the tourism business. However, the door of outbound tourism business is still firmly closed to the foreign investors. This Article will discuss the way to promote outbound tourism by setting up foreign invested travel consulting company in China.

You are a publisher of traditional hard copy content (newspapers, books, graphic novels, magazines, photographs) and your materials are in demand to fill the digital pipeline created by numerous web-based and mobile applications. Or, you are a media agency or corporate brand manager seeking to extend your footprint into the online space. You are eager to have millions of new eyeballs accessing your treasure trove. Your software developers are on board, ready to digitize.

At what point in time is a copyright application considered to be “registered” so that the owner of the copyright can sue for damages under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976? Is it when the copyright holder’s application is received by the Copyright Office (the “application approach”)? Or is it when the Copyright Office issues a certificate of registration (the “registration approach”)?

A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Penguin Group (USA) Inc. v. American Buddha may make it easier for New York plaintiffs asserting copyright infringement over the Internet to haul infringers into court in New York.

A recent decision by the Southern District of Florida in Forman v. W. Allen Morris clarifies the scope of copyright protection that is available when identical language is protected by a registered copyright in one medium but is then infringed in another. See Forman v. W. Allen Morris, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 67434 (S.D. Fla. July 6, 2010).

Nationwide, tax incentives for films typically take on one of three characteristics: (1) tax rebates, (2) tax credits, or (3) a hybrid of rebates and credits. Utah incorporates some form of each popular tax incentive available. Utah offers a hybrid of tax rebates and credits for qualifying productions. The state currently offers productions 20% maximum on dollars spent in Utah, which they term “dollars left in the state.” The new bill will increase this amount to 25%.

Ukraine is rather unexplored tourist land: though being the 12th most popular tourist country according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO), Ukraine remains almost unknown to foreigners. Most of about 20 million visitors who come to Ukraine every year are from CIS countries.

This case serves as a warning to any advisors that receive commissions paid by promoters to avoid potentially conflicting situations regardless of their confidence in the shelter. And perhaps more importantly, advisors should hold themselves to the highest fiduciary standards in all cases, even if their relationship with the donor is more fleeting thatn was the one between the Lembergs and Mr. Perris.

Junket activity is regulated by Administrative Regulation no. 6/2002 and Law no. 5/2004 (the legal regime of concession of credit for gaming or betting), the Commercial Code of Macau and also by, Law no. 16/2001 (known popularly as the Gaming Law) and its complementary regulation.

Introduction: The Australian Tourist Visa (subclass 676) is the visa typically obtained by Thai citizens looking to visit Australia. The visa allows visitors to stay in Australia for either three or six months.

On June 3, 2010, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) issued a regulation called Tentative Rule on Administration of Online Game (the Rule). The new Rule highlights that online game players should register their real names before participating in virtual competitions in cyberspace.

Catcher in the Rye fans will be interested in recent litigation regarding the great American coming-of-age novel that has been brewing in the Southern District of New York. Catcher, is J.D. Salinger’s classic story about a disillusioned teenager named Holden Caulfield who is kicked out of boarding school and then wanders around New York City for a few days with his friends before ultimately returning back home.

Today, Celebrity and Workplace Invasions of Privacy are occurring on a daily basis. The right of publicity, the right to control the commercial use of their identity, is constantly infringed. Now individual citizens are also having their privacy invaded in the work place by their employers. The author analyzes what can be done to stop this growing problem.

We have relief from the scorching days of summer, but the chill of winter will soon follow. If you are thinking ahead to the cold months to come, you are not alone. Many are planning extended vacations to warmer locale, but before you can enjoy the sunshine, you must plan for a safe and healthy trip.

Skiing and snowboarding are extremely popular in Colorado. During the 2007-2008 ski season, Colorado had 28 ski areas in operation according to the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). The NSAA also reports that over 21 million skiers visited ski areas in the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, during 2007-2008.